Love a good dance party and basketball metaphor! I’m curious, when looking at a shift from mobilizing to organizing and doing the research to find out what moved most people outside mental health space, what do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to making this change happen?
For mental health, I still think its our language. Most people have a preconceived idea of what they think mental health is/is not. It's hard to organize a movement when we don't agree on basic items like language. People can't feel moved or relate when the language isn't what they use. People won't sign up for that rally if they can't see themselves in it. I think this is one of our greatest challenges. The marriage equality movement made it about love - and that's language that everyone can relate to - can see themselves in - can understand. Our challenge is to find out that language for mental health.
Agreed, and the challenge to find the language that resonates is amplified when it’s about a topic so many folks reflexively avoid. But it’s an extraordinarily meaningful challenge I’m grateful to be a part of, and so glad to have leaders and organizations like yours approaching it so thoughtfully and strategically.
Love a good dance party and basketball metaphor! I’m curious, when looking at a shift from mobilizing to organizing and doing the research to find out what moved most people outside mental health space, what do you see as the biggest obstacle(s) to making this change happen?
For mental health, I still think its our language. Most people have a preconceived idea of what they think mental health is/is not. It's hard to organize a movement when we don't agree on basic items like language. People can't feel moved or relate when the language isn't what they use. People won't sign up for that rally if they can't see themselves in it. I think this is one of our greatest challenges. The marriage equality movement made it about love - and that's language that everyone can relate to - can see themselves in - can understand. Our challenge is to find out that language for mental health.
Agreed, and the challenge to find the language that resonates is amplified when it’s about a topic so many folks reflexively avoid. But it’s an extraordinarily meaningful challenge I’m grateful to be a part of, and so glad to have leaders and organizations like yours approaching it so thoughtfully and strategically.